asked the Minister for Agriculture if, in view of the uneasiness caused by the recent warning issued by his Department to farmers who intend to feed live stock next winter and spring, that there can be no certainty about supplies or prices of imported cereal feeding stuffs after the autumn, he will state what the supply position will be after that period and the probable price at which such imported feeding stuffs as are in common use will be available; and further, whether he is prepared to guarantee a remunerative minimum price for quantities of potatoes, oats and Ymer barley that may be available in excess of the farmers' own requirements.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Feeding Stuffs.
It is not possible to indicate what will be the position in regard to supplies or prices of imported cereal feeding stuffs after next autumn. In the light of crop reports from abroad and recent price trends, however, I am satisfied that it would be in the farmers' own interests to arrange now for the production on their own land of as much as possible of their feeding requirements for next winter and spring.
As regards the second portion of the question, I am not prepared to provide guaranteed minimum prices for potatoes, oats or feeding barley, but there will certainly be a profitable market for all that is produced provided the producer is prepared to sell them converted into live stock or live-stock products whenever this course appears most profitable.
Is the Minister aware that many farmers are severely handicapped in the task of increasing the area under these tillage crops and in increasing the maximum possible production from that area because of lack of capital? Would the Minister consider the urgent need for better credit facilities in regard to the purchase of seeds and manures and also to finance——
That is a much wider question.
——the purchase of live stock, etc.
That is a much wider question.
Might I say that the Deputy has a motion down for discussion and, in the course of that discussion. I shall dazzle him.
Is the Minister aware my motion has not been reached?
No, but it is coming up the mountain, and the Deputy will be dazzled.
Finance does not arise under Question No. 31.